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General Description:

Cervical cancer develops in the lining of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina.


Causes & Risk Factors:

While the cause of cervical cancer is unknown, women who have been infected with certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) are at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. 99.7% of women diagnosed with cervical cancer show signs of HPV infection. Women who carry Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which lowers the body's ability to fight infection, are at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. Other risk factors include:

• Having multiple sex partners (which increases the chance of HPV infection)
• Smoking
• Advanced age

Detection & Diagnosis:




Prevalence:

Thanks to pap tests, cervical cancer affects less than 200,000 women in the U.S. every year. However, in developing countries where access to pap tests is limited or non-existent, cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death for women. Currently cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer in women worldwide.


Prevention:

Gardasil, the world's first vaccine against cervical cancer is now available for women under 27 years of age. The vaccine is designed to prevent infection with HPV 16, 18, 6 and 11. Seventy percent of HPV-related cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV types 16 and 18. Gardasil is given in 3 injections over 6 months, with the second injection occuring 2 months after the first and the third injection 6 months later.


Prognosis:

When caught in the early stages, cervical cancer is very treatable and women with the disease have a good prognosis.


Symptoms:

Cervical cancer generally has no symptoms in the early stages which is why it is important for women to have regular pap tests (smears). In later stages, symptoms may include vaginal discharge, abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, painful intercourse, blood in urine or stools, and painful urination.


Treatment Options:


Resources:

http://www.cervicalcancerweek.com: website created for the European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. It offers information about smear test, HPV virus, papillomavirus and cervical cancer treatments. It also has a free downloadable "HPV and Cervical Cancer Key Facts" pdf.